BIM

Building Information Modeling

In the next years, the building and construction industry will be dramatically affected by BIM (Building Information Modeling). BIM merges information about planning, workflows and the operational management of buildings in a common database, the 3D-BIM model, which can be accessed by all involved partners of the construction and operating process.

The need for exact cost assessments, precise drawings and forward covers will be more and more important in the future. BIM is mostly the best process solution to manage developments quicker, in agreed timescales and at lower cost.

The merging of geometrical, material specific and additional non geometrical information is one of the key features of BIM and the main variation towards 3D-CAD. User add towards the technical specifications of building components information about costs and the interaction between related predecessors and successors. Additional information can be set up either for maintenance expenses and requirements or recycling solutions at the end of lifecycle of the project. BIM is the future tool to manage building developments from the first idea via the operation of the building to the demolition and recycling of the premises. By using related and networked data for the complete development all different construction specialists can communicate on the same model and match all changes quickly. BIM managers, very often the leading architect, coordinate the process and decide at the end of the day about the acceptance of changes. With the process you can achieve a better view of the building process on site and ad-hoc changes on site will be often avoided. It must be taken in account, that BIM requires a higher input in the design process, but the higher productivity on site and reduced time and cost in the building process justify this effort.

Contractees get a simple solution with the virtual 3D model to check the layout and functionalilty of the building. At an early stage in the sequence of construction, the building is transferred from a mental picture to a virtual object also for laypersons. By various developments in the IT world, detailed information and simulations of building performances can be done in real time and in understandable motion. Today, it is possible to make a virtual design of a building exactly to the reality. Of course, a higher level of detail need more input of data and more time to develop. So each improvement in exact graphical description must be balanced against the results and further use of this information in later stages of the building process.

The optimisation in collaboration of all involved partners in the complete value chain of a building is the key success point of BIM. Therefore it’s necessary that all parties must have a common understanding about using BIM in an early stage of design to reach the best benefit by virtual design in quantities, qualities, times and costs.

BIM is not a tool just for the major projects. Even in small projects, the efficiency in view to design, building and maintenance processes can be improved. Sometimes BIM is also a suitable tool for single-family houses. Future house owners get visible and structured information about their home and used building materials. Future necessary preventive services and maintenance can be shown and prepared for the craftsmen.

But we should never forget. Developments are made by people and we need for this skilled project teams, who understand the need for efficient construction in time, cost and quality frames. In this matter, BIM is the common tool to be the standard in the future and to stimulate the building and construction industry.

Introfilm BIM

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“Since many years we use BIM in all design stages even in single family houses. One of the fantastic opportunities for our clients is, that they get a virtual model in which they can move around. In cooperation we discuss at the model alternatives to give our customers the best value for their money. The asset of BIM is an added value for state of the art inn construction and will be a common standard in the future.”